Blood collection assembly and method of using the same

Abstract

A blood collection tube funnel, comprising a funnel having a spout, a stand fixedly secured to the funnel and the spout, and a base secured to a distal end of the stand. The stand farther includes a transverse support member having a gripping means arranged to removably secure a blood collection tube thereon. A method of using the blood collection tube funnel is also provided.

1 . A blood collection assembly, comprising:
 a base;   a stand fixedly secured to said base, said stand comprises a pair of support legs;   a funnel having a spout, said funnel fixedly secured to said stand;   at least one transverse support member fixedly secured to said pair of support legs; and,   at least one gripping means arranged on said at least one transverse support member, wherein said gripping means is arranged to frictionally secure a blood collection tube therein.   
     
     
         2 - 4 . (canceled) 
     
     
         5 . The blood collection assembly recited in claim  31 , wherein said pair of support legs each comprises a top end and a bottom end, said top end of each of said pair of support legs includes a support fin fixedly secured thereon, said support fin is further arranged to fixedly secure to a sloped outer section of said funnel. 
     
     
         6 . The blood collection assembly recited in  claim 1 , wherein said spout is arranged distally in relation to an opening of said funnel. 
     
     
         7 . The blood collection assembly recited in  claim 1  further comprising:
 a cap having a locking means arranged to secure to said spout. 
 
     
     
         8 . The blood collection assembly recited in  claim 1 , wherein said base comprises an aperture, said aperture of said base is further arranged to frictionally secure a blood collection tube therein. 
     
     
         9 . The blood collection assembly recited in claim  41 , wherein said funnel comprises a support ring, said support ring is arranged on an outer surface of said funnel between said sloped section of said funnel and said spout, said support ring is fixedly secured to a top end of each of said pair of support legs. 
     
     
         10 . The blood collection assembly recited in  claim 7 , wherein said spout further includes a groove circumscribing an outer surface of said spout, said groove is further arranged to mate with said locking means of said cap. 
     
     
         11 . The blood collection assembly recited in  claim 10 , wherein said cap comprises a partial through-bore, said partial through-bore is further arranged to accept a distal surface of said spout when engaged thereto. 
     
     
         12 . The blood collection assembly recited in  claim 1 , wherein said spout is further arranged to have a sloped outer surface, said sloped outer surface is further arranged to fixedly secure to an inside surface of an opening of a blood collection tube frictionally securing said blood collection tube to said spout. 
     
     
         13 . The blood collection assembly recited in  claim 6 , wherein said opening of said funnel is an elliptical shape. 
     
     
         14 . The blood collection assembly recited in  claim 1 , wherein said funnel is removable from said stand. 
     
     
         15 . The blood collection assembly recited in claim  31 , wherein said stand further comprises a pair of transverse support members fixedly secured to said pair of support legs. 
     
     
         16 . The blood collection assembly recited in  claim 15 , wherein said pair of transverse support members each include a gripping means. 
     
     
         17 . A method for using the blood collection assembly recited in  claim 1 , comprising the steps of:
 removing a warm-up pad and said blood collection assembly from a sealed container;   heating said warm-up;   inserting an opening of a blood collection tube onto a distal end of said spout;   placing a finger into said warm-up pad for a period of time and applying pressure to said warm-up pad during said period of time;   removing said finger from said warm-up pad and sterilizing said finger;   lancing said finger to draw blood; and,   aiming said finger over said funnel to drop blood into said funnel of said blood collection assembly to collect blood in said blood collection tube.   
     
     
         18 . A blood collection assembly, comprising:
 a base;   a stand fixedly secured to said base, said stand comprising a pair of support legs;   at least one transverse support member fixedly secured to each of said pair of support legs;   a funnel having a spout, said funnel fixedly secured to said stand; and,   a cap arranged to removably engage said spout,   wherein each of said at least one transverse support member includes a gripping means arranged to removably secure a blood collection tube therein.   
     
     
         19 . The blood collection assembly recited in  claim 18 , wherein said spout has a center point and an opening of said blood collection tube has a center point, wherein said gripping means are further arranged to position said center point of said opening of said blood collection tube engaged thereon collinearly with said center point of said spout. 
     
     
         20 . A method for using the blood collection assembly recited in  claim 19 , comprising the steps of:
 removing a warm-up pad and said blood collection assembly from a sealed container;   heating said warm-up pad;   inserting said blood collection tube into said gripping means;   sliding blood collection tube upwardly to engage said opening of said blood collection tube onto a distal end of said spout;   placing a finger into said warm-up pad for a period of time and applying pressure to said warm-up pad during said period of time;   removing said finger from said warm-up pad and sterilizing said finger;   lancing said finger to draw blood;   aiming said finger over said funnel to drop blood into said funnel of said blood collection assembly to collect blood in said blood collection tube;   sliding said blood collection tube in a downward direction within said gripping means to disengage said opening of said blood collection tube with said distal end of said spout; and,   engaging said cap with said spout.